The UK’s landscaping sector is at a turning point. Climate pressures are growing, skills are in short supply, and new rules like Biodiversity Net Gain are raising the stakes. BALI’s National Landscape Conference brings together the industry’s brightest minds to ask one vital question: how do we build landscapes and organisations that are truly future-proof? Hear from visionaries including Helen Nyul, Director of Ecology at Verna, and Sir Tim Smit, Founder of the Eden Project.
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The UK landscaping sector stands at a defining moment.
As climate extremes become more frequent, from heatwaves and flooding to shifting growing conditions, and as the skills gap continues to bring challenges, landscape professionals face increasing pressure on people, projects and plants alike. Add to this evolving regulation such as Biodiversity Net Gain, rising client expectations and heightened scrutiny around environmental performance, and one thing is clear: climate resilience is no longer optional. It is operational.
The BALI National Landscape Conference 2026 brings together senior leaders, practitioners and experts to focus on how the sector can respond with confidence and clarity.
This is a strategic, thought-leadership event designed to tackle the questions shaping the future of landscaping:
- How do we design, build and maintain landscapes that perform in a changing climate?
- How do we protect our teams, our businesses and the environments we work in?
- How do we move beyond compliance to deliver long-term value, resilience and leadership across the sector?
We are delighted to welcome three outstanding keynote speakers.
Agenda at a glance
Theme: Climate resilience and how to future proof your business. A day focused on sustainability, biodiversity, plant health, skills, and economic resilience.
09:30 to 10:00 Arrival and refreshments
10:00 to 10:05 Opening speech (hosted by Adrian Wickham)
10:05 to 10:40 Keynote: Trevor Williams Global trends and economic forces impacting landscaping
10:40 to 11:15 Keynote: Sir Tim Smit Regenerative sustainability and the Eden Project
11:15 to 11:50 Refreshments and networking
11:50 to 12:25 Keynote: Helen Nyul Biodiversity Net Gain and climate resilience
12:30 to 13:30 Lunch and networking ~
13:30 to 14:30 Breakout sessions (choose one)
Room 1: A workplace for the future
Room 2: Data driven biodiversity
Room 3: The reality of plant health
14:30 to 15:00 Refreshments and networking
15:00 to 16:00 Breakout sessions (choose one)
Room 1: Training and developing future talent
Room 2: Goods to the ground: inside the supply chain
Room 3: Where’s the money? Navigating the economic landscape
16:00 to 17:00 Final session and closing speech
17:00 to 18:30 Networking drinks reception
Note: breakout content and panellists may be subject to change.
As the UK’s leading landscaping trade association, BALI is proud to convene this conversation. The challenges facing our sector are complex and urgent, but they are also an opportunity. By bringing together expertise, experience and ambition, we can help shape a more resilient, confident and future-ready industry.
